MANITOWOC – City of Manitowoc workers who use tobacco products will pay an additional $100 per month toward their health insurance premiums in a motion approved by the City Council at its regular meeting Monday night.

Most city workers pay 12.5 percent of their health insurance premiums, or approximately $67 per month for single coverage and about $174 per month for family coverage. The city pays the remainder through tax levy dollars on property owners.

The city will require all employees to take a nicotine test this fall with employees enrolled in health plan coverage that decline the test or are determined to be nicotine users charged the additional $100 per month.

Employees will have the opportunity to take a free five-week smoking cessation program and avoid the $100 monthly surcharge after they take another test indicating they have quit using products containing nicotine.

Alderman Chris Able said studies have shown that the additional medical care and treatment charges associated with smoking exceeds the surcharge.

Alderman Jason Sladky was concerned about "a slippery slope where the city is dictating employees' lifestyles ... what is next, obesity?"

Alderwoman Jill Hennessey noted many employers impose surcharges on smoking workers. "We are not blazing any trails here," she said.

No pro-rata benefits

In other deliberations and decisions by city officials:

• Council members endorsed their benefit plan consultant's suggestion that coverage be eliminated for employees working less than 30 hours per week with "part-time" status.

Virtually all part-time municipal workers are at the Manitowoc Public Library and they have had pro-rate benefits. Hennessey said these individuals are among those who should be able to obtain health insurance coverage via the Affordable Care Act, or "Obamacare."

• Single and family medical insurance deductibles will be increased to $2,000 and $4,000, respectively, from $1,500 and $3,000 but the city will put $500 or $1,000 into a health reimbursement arrangement that workers can put toward their deductibles.

Human Resources Director Rochelle Blindauer said historically it is rare when more than 25 percent of the city's workforce spends enough out of pocket to meet the deductible.

• The staffs of the mayor, human resources director and city attorney will be adjusted so there is one support person per executive. The intent is to have a better focus on higher-level tasks by the executive and to take advantage of the skills of the support staff currently sharing multi-departmental responsibilities.

For example, Hennessey, a veteran human services professional, said the city's human resources director needs to concentrate on succession planning, the city's new performance management initiative and compensation plans.

• A Manitowoc native, retired U.S. Army Command Sgt. Major Edgar Hansen shared preliminary plans for a tribute to the famed Red Arrow Infantry Brigade that would be created at Red Arrow Park.

The initial phase might be erecting a memorial wall, followed by an exhibit of military hardware, such as an M-60 tank, "someday even a building housing a Red Arrow museum," said Hansen, who helped lead 3,200 soldiers during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2009-10.

• Manitowoc Police Chief Tony Dick and other officers are exploring the possibility of creating opportunities for disabled individuals to bow hunt on city-owned property.

• Council members are wrestling with what kind, if any, decorations will be allowed on the trees on homeowners' terraces considering the land and any vegetation is city property.

Sladky said if tree in terraces are allowed to be decorated including "yarn bombing" on New York Avenue, will people be allowed to decorate trees in parks and in front of City Hall.

"Is TPing a form of decorating?" asked Alderman Al Schema.

One resident voiced objections to green geckos stenciled on the city sidewalk in front of a neighbor's house.

• Taking advantage of low borrowing rates, the city is set to refinance bonds that will create annual interest savings of about $100,000 annually for the next 10 years.